Submarine mine.



sUBMAR-n MINE. APPLIUA'L'ION I" in) JUNE 30|199 Patented 0ct.19, 1909.

w/r/vEssES /Nl/ENTUR a? /ZBERW f? HRM/WELL @7 j JWM I By AToH/vfrs A. P.BROOMBLL.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE 30,1909.

HLM

lull

C L llmlmll A. P. BROOMBLL.

SUBMARINE MINE.

PPLIGATION Hum JUNE 90,1909.

937,673. Patented 009191909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.'

4-0 1 broken away, ofthe lower section of the aib ALBERT P. BROOlVIELL,OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUBIVIARINE MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten oct. 1o, iooo.

Application tiled. .Tune 30, 1909. Serial No. 505,192.

To alt whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT I). BnooMnLL, a citizen ot' the UnitedStates, and a resident of York, in the county of York and State ofPennsylvania, have made certain new and useful Improvements in SubmarineMines, of which the following is a specification.

marine mines and particularly in the anchoring device therefor, and theinvention relates especially to that class of mines in which a mine isconnected by a line with an anchor provided with means for paying outthe line and with means ttor checking the paying out of the line so thatwhen the mine and attached anchor are thrown overboard the mine williloat as the anchor descends toward the bottom, and as the anchorapproaches the bottom it will Operate to di'aw the mine below thesurface to an extent proport-ioned to the length of a gage lineconnected with the anchor; and the invention consists in certain novelconstructions and combinations ot parts as will be hereinafter describedand claimed.

In the drawings Figure l is a side view of the min anchor, and gage linein the posi* tion the parts assume as the anchor descends through thewater before the gage line with its attached weight reaches the bottoni.Fig. 2 is a similar view of the parts after the gage line has touchedthe bottom and before the anchor has reached the bottom, the anchor andthe mine occupying the position they assume as they descend through thewater, the mine being pulled down by the anchor. Fig. 3 is a similarview showing the anchor and the mine, with the latter in its ultimateposition. Fig. 4t is a top plan view, partly eher. Fig. 5 is a verticallongitudinal section ot the anchor drawn alongside the reel shaft. Fig.6 is a top plan view of the upper section of the anchor, and Fig. 7 is avertical section of the anchor on about line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

As be'lj'tn'e suggested, the present invention relates to mine anchorsused in connection with buoyant mines in which the anchor is providedwith a reel which is connected'by a cable with the buoyant mine, and adetent mechanism is provided for stopping the operation oli the reel asthe anchor approaches F the bottom, such detent being restrained by aweight on a gage line so that when the gage line weight strikes thebottoni, the paWl stopping the paying out of the cable between the reeland the mine so that the downward 5 movement of the anchor subsequent tothe E stoppage of the reel will pull the buoyant 'lhis invention is animprovement in submine below the surface to an extent proportioned tothe length of the gage line connecting the weight with the detent.. Thepresentinvention includes certain improvements in the inea-ns forsupporting and operating the detent pawl in order to prevent thebreakage thereolf' by a blow or shock occasioned by the stopping of thereel, also to secure the boxes for the reel shaft between the upper andlower sections ol' the anchor in such manner as to avoid the necessityof fastening bolts l'or said boxes by securing the boxes by the boltswhich connect the anchor sections together; also certain improvements inthe construction of the ree-l whereby the same is built up, so parts maybe renewed in case or breakage without much trouble or loss ot time, andfurther to provide certain improvements in the construction of theanchor proper, all ot' which will be described.

'lhe inine A is a buoyantinine and is connected by a cable B, with areel C carried by the anchor D, and a detent E carried by the anchor hasconnected with it a gage line F, which connects it with the ballgG. 'lhemine A may be of any suitable construction and the line or cable B maybe ot any su1table construction which may be freely wound upon the reelC.

The anchor proper includes an upper section D and a lower section D2,which are bolted together at D and upon thc boxes II for the reel shaft.rlhe lower section D2 is provided in its opposite sides near its lowerend with recesses DAk and Di", the latter being crossed by the handle D,and the base wall D7 ot' the recess D4 being perforated 4for the passageof the pivot bolt I of the detent pawl E, which detent pawl 1s pivotedon the bolt. I, and seats at its lower end in a recess la" formed in ablock Ff cast upon the base oit the anchor, the said recess E and thelower end of the pawl E being rounded to forni a broad base for the saidpawl in the different posi tions thereof. At its upper end the pawl witha. lateral arm IC, to which is coniuwtcd the gage line F whose weightacts to hold the pawl away freni the ratchet in the position of partsshown in Fig. 1, and a spring K also connects at one end with said arniD", and at its other end with a hook K and operates to throw the pawlinto ei'igageinent the bottom and the strain thereof on the pawl E isreleased. The hook K is threaded into a block Y2 east at the inner sideof the upper section D of the anchor. By the described construction thepawl E is constantly under tension. This tension in the position ofparts shown in Fig. l is a dual one, the spring K tending to pull thepawl into engagement with the ratchet, while the weight of the gage lineF resists the action of the spring K and holds the pawl out ofengagement with the ratchet so the reel inay freely revolve to pay oil'the line connecting it with the buoyant inine. W hen the weight Gr restson the bottom and the pawl is relieved of the gravity of said weight,the spring instantly jerks the pawl into engage nient with the ratchetJ. At such tiine, if the pawl be supported in any ordinary inanner,there is a tendency to break the pawl or tear it away from itsfastenings by the blow or shock occasioned by the stopping o f the reeland the instantaneous transmission to the said pawl of the weight of theanchor and the buoyancy ot' the float which is pulled down by the anchorwhen the reel 1s stopped. I avoid this ditiiculty by sup` porting thelower end of the pawl in the recess or pocket E, which latter' ischilled in the operation o'li casting and e'lliciently sustains theshock and blow relieving the bolt from all such st aiii. As shown, thepawl is pivoted diainetrieally below the axis of the reel and the pawland ratchet are so constructed and related to the pivoted pawl that thestrain on the pawl is an eiidwise one, or in the direction of length ofthe pawl as best shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. In practice the pawlis inade from a high quality of steel casting or steel forging and itslower end which tits in the chill pocket E', is ina chine finished. Thepivot bolt I is a bronze bolt and is purposely made a loose tit where 1tpasses through the pawl.

The reel shaft has its trunnions it and 2 journaled in the boxes I-I andH', which latter niay be babbitted as shown, and are provided at theirlower edges with the lateral ribs H2. These boxes tit into notches Lfoi-ined in the upper edges of the lower section D2 of the anchor at theSides thereof, and said notches are provided at their lower ends withlateral wings Ii receiving the lateral ribs of the boxes II, the boxesIl. being slipped longitudinally into the seats formed by the notches Las will be understood from Fig. 7 of the drawings. The boxes extend atI-I3 above the upper edge of the lower section l`)` o'l5 the anchor, andl'orin at li" upwardly facing shoulders which are overlapped by the sideplates ot the upper section D ol' the anchor as liest shown in Fig. 5,lo prevent any outward displacement ot the boxes when the anchorsections` are connected as will be understood :troni Figs. 5 and 7 ofthe drawings. By this construction when the parts are applied as shownin Figs. 5 and 7, the reel trnnnions will he securely held in the boxesand the boxes will be secured in place by the construction of the anchorproper as shown and betorc described. Vv'lieii the boxes are fitted tothe lower section of the anchor as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, care. shouldhe taken to have the joint at the upper side of the lateral flanges Il2a close lit, and it there is any play up and down between the boxing andthe casting, the box niay be wedged up until the joint at the upper sideof the 'lianges Il is tight. While in this position the upper side ofthe lower section Dt' is faced olf, and at the saine tiiiie the upperedges of the boxes are 'faced oitl;l between the shoulders I1* and theupper ends of the boxes which insures the upper edges ol" the. boxesbeing bevel. with the corresponding edge of the section D2, and alsoinsures a close joint. between the upper and lower sections of theant'fhor. Then the anchor is descending toward the bottoni ot the seawith the pawl held in its disei'igaged position by the lead weight onthe gage line, the reel will revolve rapidly and when thel weightstrikes the bottoni and slacks the distance or gage line l". the springK will pull the pawl into the position shown in Fig. 7, and suddenlystop the revolution ot' the reel or drinn. Then the reel stopsrevolving, the inine, which has up to this tiine been l'loating on thewater. and weighs several hundred pounds, is suddenly jerked under thewater making a sudden and severe upward pull o n the reel with atendency to tear the reel. and its shaft out of its bearings: 'l'hcconstruction as shown, provides all the weight of the anclioi' to take.up the shock occasioned by the lifting it'orce o'l the rope ou the reel`and the upper halt' or section ot' the anchor is bolted onto 'the lowersection and the. boxes are l'itted into undercut recesses in the anchorproviding a hook-under box which is siinple, strong and eflicientlyprevents any disarrangeinent ot| the parts.

In constructing the reel I provide a shaft having a central squaredportion C, with trunnions l and 2 at the ends thereotI to Iit in theboxes, and at the inner end ot' one trunnion I provide a shoulder 3 forabutinent by one end plate 4f, of the reel. The

body C2 of the reel forms a spacing block between the plates 4t and 5,as well as a druii'i on which to wind the rope B, and the ratchet J isfitted on the squared portion of the shaft up against the plate 5, andis held by a pin (S passing through the shaft as `shown. By thisconstruction, the reel may be readily taken apart in order to renew anyportion thereof that may become worn. or broken. Where desired a pinsuch as G, may be used instead of the shoulder 3.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the sections D and D2 are provided with inneralined fianges M and N which lap along the inner faces of the end plates4 and 5 of the reel and aid in pieventing any clogging or tangling ofthe rope as it passes from the reel as well as to strengthen and bracethe sections D and D2 of the anchor.

I claiinl. In an apparatus substantially as described, an anchorcomposed of upper and lower sections secured together, the lower sectionbeing provided in its upper edges with notches provided with lateralwings, and the said section being also provided upon its bottom platewith a recess or pocket, a reel in the anchor and having a ratchetwheel, and also provided with a shaft having trunnions, boxes havingbearings for said trunnions and fitting in the notches of the loweranchor section and having lateral ribs` operating in the wings of saidnotches, and outwardlyI facing shoulders at their upper sides opposingthe inner faces of the sidewalls of the top anchor section, a detentpawl pivoted at its lower end and operating at such end in the pocket orrecess of the bottom plate of the anchor, and means for operating saidpawl all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination with an anchor, and a reel therein, of boxes formingjournal bearings for said reel, and having undercut engagement with theanchoi'.

3. rlhe combination with an anchor having notches provided with lateralwings, of a rcel in the lanchor, and boxes forming journal bearings forthe reel and fitted in the notches of the anchor, and having lateralribs fitting the wings of said notches.

et. The combination of a reel, an anchor receiving the reel and havingupper and lower sections, and means securing the same together, andboxes forming journal bearings for the reel and held between thesections of the anchor.

5. rlhe combination of a reel, an anchor having a lower section providedin its upper side with the opposite notches having undercut portions,the boxes forming journal bearings for the reel, and fitting in saidnotches and having portions fitting the undercut portions of thenotches, and the upper anchor section secured to the lower section andoverlying the box.

@The combination of a reel, boxes forming journal bearings therefor, andhaving at its upper sides outwardly facing shoulders,

and an anchor having a lower section notched for the reception of theboxes, and an upper section secured to the lower section and overlyingthe boxes and al'iutted. at their inner sides by the outwardly lfacingshouldersl of the boxes.

7. The combination of a reel, having end plates, and au anchorl.'..ce.iviug the rcel and composed of upper and lower sections securedtogether, said sections being provided at their inner sides with alinedflanges fitting along the inner faces of the end plates of the reel.

S. The combination of ananchor having upper and lower sections,removable boxes held between the upper and lower sections of the anchor,and a reel having trunnions journaled in the said boxes.

9. The combination of a reel having a. ratchet wheel, an anchor withinwhich the reel is ournaled, said anchor being provided with a recess orpocket opposite the reel ratchet and in line below the axis of the reel,a pawl arranged at one end to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel andhaving its other end fitted to the pocket or recess, and bearing againstthe base wall thereof wheu the pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel,said pawl being provided with a lateral arm, a spring acting upon saidarm to press the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, and a gageor distance line connected with the pawl and having a weight foroperating the pawl in opposition to the spring.

10. A reel having a ratchet wheel, and an anchor in which said reel isjournaled, and provided opposite the ratchet wheel with a recess orpocket, and a pawl movable into and out of engagement'. with the ratchetwheel, and seated at one end in and bearing at said end endwise againstthe base wall of the said pocket or recess.

11. The combination of a reel having a ratchet wheel, an anchor withinwhich said reel is ournaled and provided below the axis of the reel witha recess or pocket, a pawl seated at one end in and bearing at said endendwise against the base wall of the recess or pocket and movable at itsother end into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, and meansfor operating the pawl.

12. The combination of a reel havii'ig a shaft formed with a centralangular portion, and with trunnions at the ends thereof, a body or druniportion fitting on the angular portion of the shaft, and plates fittedon the angular portion of the shaft at the ends of the body portion, aratchet wheel fitted on the angular portion of the shaft against one ofthe end plates, removable boxes having journal bearings for thetrunnions of the reel shaft, an anchor supporting said boxes, and a pawlcarried by the anchor for engaging the ratchet wheel.

' 13. The combination of an anchor coniposed of upper and lowersections, boxes ltting removably between said sections and havingjournal bearings, a reel having a Sbali. provided with end trunnionsjournaled in said bearings and with an intermediate angular portion, abody or drum 'portion fitted on tbe angular portion ot' tbe sha-ft, andend plates, and a ratchet wheel also fitted on the angular portion ofthe shaft, a pawl engaging with said ratchet wheel, and means foroperating the pawl.

14. In an anchor for submarine mines, the combination of a reel shaft,boxes carrying the saine, and an anchor having upper and lower sect-ionsbetween wbieb tbe Said boxes 15 are held substantially as set .i'ortb.

15. The eon'xbination in submarine lnines of an anchor provided with arecess or pocket, a reel, and a pivoted pawl coperating with said reeland seated at its plvoted 20 end loosely in the recess or pocket wherebythe blow on said pawl will be borne entirely by the anchor,substantially as set forth.

ALBERT l. BROOMELL.

Witnesses GEO. S. SCHMIDT, ANDREW J. Hnnsiinx'.

